“I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn't mean anything? What then?” (Gaiman 118 ).
In chapter 10 of Coraline, she is trying to retrieve the last stone, and voices are trying to discourage her, but she knows better. Coraline tests these voices by letting them know that they are wrong. She does not really want everything she wants because it would never be fun like that. And, nothing she could ever get would be special again, if she got everything she wanted. We can parallel this to the theme of family throughout Coraline’s journey. Coraline wants a family who is going to play with her and give her everything she wants, but she realizes that this is not truly what she wants. Coraline created the other mother because “...[she] represents a replacement of Coraline’s real mother because at this stage in her life she feels neglected and desires a stronger mother figure.” (Martinez 10) Coraline realizes after getting what she wants, that she really does not want it.